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Too late to apply for Widower's pension?

  • 30-04-2017 10:13am
    #1
    housetypeb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,197 ✭✭✭


    My American spouse died 8 years ago. I never applied for widowers pension.
    I just assumed that as it would be means tested, and I have a good income from rental properties (fully tax compliant) along with a survivors benefits pension from America for me and my children,that I would be over any threshold to qualify for it.
    The survivors benefit stops for me when the youngest child reaches 16 but continues for the children until they turn 18.
    I know that it won't be backdated but do I qualify going forward?


Comments

  • #2
    infogiver
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,505 ✭✭✭infogiver


    housetypeb wrote: »
    My American spouse died 8 years ago. I never applied for widowers pension.
    I just assumed that as it would be means tested, and I have a good income from rental properties (fully tax compliant) along with a survivors benefits pension from America for me and my children,that I would be over any threshold to qualify for it.
    The survivors benefit stops for me when the youngest child reaches 16 but continues for the children until they turn 18.
    I know that it won't be backdated but do I qualify going forward?

    Hi
    The Widow/Widowers pension is based on PRSI contributions you or your late spouse may have paid both here in Ireland and you can also use insurance contributions made in the US to make up the obligation.
    But a certain amount must have been made by either of you here in Ireland.
    It's not means tested, purely insurance contributions based.
    You cannot combine the insurance contributions both of you made.
    It must be EITHER yours, or your spouses.
    Your right in that you won't get it backdated but
    you have absolutely nothing to lose from completing the application form and submitting it and they will get back to you pretty quickly.

    http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/death_related_benefits/widows_contrib_pension.html

    http://www.welfare.ie/en/pdf/wcp1.pdf


  • #3
    Mr McBoatface
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,579 ✭✭✭Mr McBoatface


    It can be backdated for a period of up to 6 months.

    I remember reading of a case where a person had a claim back dated for a 5 year period but they where advised incorrectly a DSP staff member

    You should apply as soon as you can . A personal letter explaining your reason for not applying earlier would help get it processed. It is not unusual for people not to apply for the payment either through dealing with grief and the aftermath of loosing a loved one. Or sometimes just not knowing what they are entitled too.

    Edit : - Regarding PRSI contributions I think there has been a change in the rules recently. When my wife passed away combined prsi contributions where allowed. As it stood it made no difference for me as both of us had more than enough paid. I imagine the rules at the time of the death should apply


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